Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Kerrane will acknowledge the fuel allowance was increased on 1 January up to €28 per week. That was an important step and it would have helped in some way to assist people in meeting their fuel bills. The living alone allowance for older people was also increased. The Deputy is aware an exception was made last year for the fuel allowance, given that it is for a particular time period. This year, when you couple the fact of the increase in the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance, those are important considerations.

It is also important to point to the level of support we have paid out in the pandemic unemployment payment. I gave the Deputy the figures earlier. There have been a significant number of payments and a significant amount paid over the past year.

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